Pletcher on preparations by BC runners: ‘I couldn’t be more pleased with all of them’

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Edited Press Release

A week before the first day of the two-day Breeders’ Cup World Championships at Keeneland, trainer Todd Pletcher expressed confidence in the 11 horses he has pre-entered to the event. All have been training at Keeneland for several weeks.

“I feel really, really good about the way the horses are training,” he said. “Over the last two days, we’ve seen the kind of works you’d like to see coming into big races: Horses finishing well, galloping out strongly, cooling out quickly, staying in the feed tub – all those little signs that you’re looking for. Right now I couldn’t be more pleased with all of them.”

On Thursday, Pletcher sent out Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G1) hopeful Azar (:48), Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1) contender Curalina (:48.20), fellow Distaff candidate Got Lucky (:48.40), Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1) runner Liam’s Map (1:01.20) and Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) nominee Thrilled (:48) for their final breezes.

On Friday, his workers were Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1) hopeful Dame Dorothy, Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1) candidate Mshawish, Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) contender Rachel’s Valentina, Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1) runner Red Rifle and Filly & Mare Sprint nominee Sweet Whiskey.

In darkness, Pletcher worked a quartet of horses four furlongs each.

Humana Distaff (G1) heroine Dame Dorothy was clocked in :49 following fractions of :13.20 and :25.60. The Bernardini sophomore galloped out in 1:02.60 and 1:15.40.

Grade 1 victor Mshawish covered the distance in :47.80. Clockers caught him in fractions of :13.20, :25.80 and :47.80 while galloping out in 1:01 and 1:14.20.

Multiple Grade 2 scorer Red Rifle was caught in :49 after fractions of :12.80 and :25.80. The Giant’s Causeway gelding galloped out in 1:02 and 1:14.60.

Grade 3 vixen Sweet Whiskey also turned a half-mile in :49.

After the renovation break, undefeated Spinaway S. (G1) winner Rachel’s Valentina worked in company with stablemate Ransack and was well ahead of him after breezing five furlongs in 1:00.80.

Clockers caught the Bernardini juvenile in fractions of :37.20 and 1:00.80, and she galloped out in 1:13.20 and 1:28.20.

The final member of the Pletcher Breeders’ Cup contingent, Distaff hopeful Stopchargingmaria, is to work Saturday.

All photos courtesy of Keeneland/Coady Photography

Rachel's Valentina